The title of Capital of Culture was awarded long before we joined the European Union, as early as 1985. Since then, several European cities have carried this title (sometimes including their own region). It is one of the most important and coherent initiatives of the European Union in the field of culture. We probably remember well that Tallinn won the title in 2011.
Tartu, however, seems to have taken this on a particularly large scale: more events are planned at the time than in Tallinn and the whole of southern Estonia is involved. Opening parties are also held in Valga, Võru, Viljandi.
Tartu doesn’t just hold the title: three European cities receive it every year. In addition to Tartu, the Norwegian city also holds the title this year Bodofamous for fish farming and the Knut Hamsun house museum, and the Austrian town Bad Ischl. The latter is famous because the emperor loved to spend his holidays there: in 1849 Emperor Franz Joseph built his summer palace in the city, which became the summer residence of the entire royal family. The emperor called the place a paradise on earth. Like Tartu, Bad Ischl is the European Capital of Culture 2024 with local governments.
A delicate glass travel cup traveled to Tartu
“The baton of the capital of culture has been handed over to us. The ceremony took place in a highly symbolic place, Athens, the cradle of European culture. The respectful title of European capital of culture is shared by Tartu together with southern Estonia, but the “The whole of Estonia is in the spotlight. Our cultural and educational programs offer more than 1,000 different events according to the creative concept of “Survival Arts”, explained Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas.
Kuldar Leis, director of the European Capital of Culture of the Year, was also happy to receive the award. He too has been working for the capital of culture for several years.
The delivery also had to be made: the Greeks arranged a toast along with the words of delivery.
Since the Estonians’ speeches remained at the end of the party, they were quite short and funny. Kuldar Leis invited everyone to a smoke sauna and asked to bring a new mountain for the village festival: we have everything, but we need mountains!
“Now we can truly say that we have brought home the title of European Capital of Culture,” Leis rejoiced. “We have been training for five years in preparation for the capital of culture, and now it’s time for the show. The first major celebration of the capital of culture – the opening ceremony entitled “All are one!” – will begin as early as January 26 in the heart of Tartu.” Leis promises that anyone who comes to Tartu to enjoy the spectacle will not be disappointed: the traditional opening ceremonies of the European capitals of culture selected each year are inspired by the opening Olympic Games – a spectacular large-scale concert takes place on the banks of the winter Emajõgi.
Tartu has symbolically received the title from its Hungarian sister city, Veszprém, capital of culture 2023.
“When we passed the baton, we felt like we were taking over a very important job from a more senior colleague, and now we still have everything ahead of us. Tartu now wants to take on this task and take it to new levels. This is a big responsibility, which highlights the particularity of Estonian culture both here and in Europe,” said Leis.
According to Leis, the Tartu 2024 program includes culture, from rock to symphony, from smoke sauna to artificial intelligence. “I hope the year offers both recognition and new experiences for everyone!”
Check out the photo gallery of the delivery!
Will the Year of Culture bring one million visitors to southern Estonia?
The organizational budget of Tartu 2024 after five years, together with the Melina Mercour prize, amounts to a total of 26 million euros: the majority of the budget is spent on program creation and marketing.
The largest donors are the Estonian state through the Ministry of Culture, which donated 10 million euros to the foundation, and the city of Tartu also allocated 10 million euros. The remaining 4.5 million euros will come from various grants: 1.5 million after five years will come from 19 local governments in southern Estonia. The foundation will have to raise another million and a half from the support programs of the European Union and Estonia. Melina Mercour’s prize is 1.5 million euros.
However, this is not money destined to disappear forever: in the most successful cases, every euro invested in the operating budget has brought the region 5-6 euros of revenue thanks to additional investments, co-financing, growth of the region’s image and the tourists who they come there. Judging from previous data, it is likely that the events of the Tartu 2024 program could receive up to one million visits.
The work in favor of Tartu, the capital of culture, has been going on for years. On 28 August 2019, the Capitals of Culture Expert Committee named Tartu, together with Southern Estonia, the European Capital of Culture for 2024.
The memory of the Year of Culture reached Tartu well. Now all that’s left to do is begin the great work!
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2024-01-15 19:11:23
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